Sixteen-years-old Margaret Kuras of Vanuatu who secured gold for women’s half marathon on the 20^th July said Samoa was like home to her where she ran barefoot everywhere.

In an interview with Samoa Observer, having Samoa as a host has given her inspiration to run as it is much like home where she can just run anywhere without shoes.

“I’m used to running barefoot back at the island and I don’t get used to wearing shoes. Everyone asked me to wear the shoes and I tried but it’s just too heavy for my legs and see where it got me?,” she said.

This is her first time to compete in the Pacific Games and securing a gold medal for Ms. Kuras was a dream come true.

Also, this is also her contribution to spreading of the green Pacific Games message to the athletes around the Pacific.

She said there was no challenge at all for running without shoes and she hopes that by winning gold without her shoes can give others inspiration that everything has to start from the traditional ways.

“This is my way of proudly representing my country and my family where I grew up to love and cherish so you should to,” she encouraged.

Back in Vanuatu, Ms. Kuras has 6 brothers and she is representing the local area councils of Vanuatu with her brother who she lives with in one of the provinces of Vanuatu.

All her days spent in Samoa was just walking everywhere barefoot including the closing ceremony.